New York Workers Get Extended Lunch Break to Watch Team USA

Fans cheer on the US Men's National Team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup at a viewing party under the Manhattan Bridge. View Full Caption

Facebook/DUMBO, Brooklyn

MANHATTAN — As New Yorkers gather in front of TVs across the city to cheer on Team USA in their drive to keep their World Cup dreams alive, New York State employees won’t have to worry about missing work.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave state workers an extended lunch break — from noon to 2 p.m. instead of the typical noon to 1 p.m. — so that they could support the nation's team during Thursday afternoon’s match against Germany, he announced Thursday.

The move came in response to a letter from Jürgen Klinsmann, the coach of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team, about giving American soccer fans permission to request time off.

“The State of New York stands strongly behind Team USA,” Cuomo wrote to Klinsmann. “Therefore, I am approving an extra hour for an extended lunch today for every New York State employee, beginning at 12 p.m., so they can root Team USA on to victory.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office did not immediately respond on whether city workers were given the same perk — but did tweet out a picture of City Hall staff watching the game from the bullpen just after noon.

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